I was nervous about setting up my EX495. I've built a lot of computers and even deployed some servers without keyboards and monitors, but I've never actually worked with a Windows box designed to function without a monitor and keyboard. I was certain it would all work, and I'm no stranger to accessing systems over a network, but it still wasn't clear to me how it would all work. I guess it was time to simply suspend disbelief and follow the instructions.

I unpacked my MediaSmart EX495 carefully and just took it all in. My first realization was that the system was much smaller than I thought it would be. From the photos, it just looks like a standard tower PC, and it is... but it is a mini-tower and quite small. At about 5 1/2 inches wide, 9 inches high, and 8 inches deep, I knew it would fit comfortably on a shelf in my office, and would look great, too.